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Following the departures of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben at the end of the season, Bayern Munich have turned their attention to Man City’s Leroy Sane.

They see Sane as a direct replacement for the wingers, and with the German currently being a contract rebel at the Etihad, the signs are looking good for the Bundesliga Champions.

Following an indifferent year for Sane, and seemingly out of favour in Pep Guardiola’s plan. With him preferring either Raheem Sterling or Bernando Silva, even Riyad Mahrez for most of the season, it seems all ways lead of out Manchester.

Having been one of Guardiola’s first signings from Schalke for 37m, it seems Bayern Munich want to spend no more than their record fee of 70m. Furthermore, the Citizens are reportedly looking in the region 90m and not looking to budge on that figure.

However, a few Man United fans have jumped on the Sane train, as they look to close the gap to their rivals, and getting a player of Sane’s quality would certainly improve Solskjaer’s squad.

I can't see these Sane to Bayern rumours being Dalai if I'm honest especially with Robben & Ribery leaving the club, he's the ideal replacement. Shame if he does go though he's some talent and it would be a shame to see his best days elsewhere in his prime.

The Premier League trophy is still cooling down after being passed around a jubilant Man City team, and Pep Guardiola is already planning for next season’s title hunt.

Man City for the past two seasons have been a level above everyone else, albeit just this season as Liverpool pushed the Champions close. Pep knows the hunting pack are going to be upping their game in the close season, and have started to act swiftly in the transfer market that opens today.

Knowing that midfield general Ferdandinho is hitting the twilight years of his career, the need to look for a replacement is high on the priority list. Especially with a possible transfer window ban looming above the Etihad.

The man they seem to be targetting is Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele. The international is creating interest from Europe’s top clubs, hence the quick action taken by the Citizens.

However, Lyon were quick to reject a bid from the Premier League champions. The 45m rated defensive midfielder is one to watch, but Ndombele only arrived at Lyon last summer and could be a hard player to lure away.

Pep maybe should look at these two players instead as alternatives…

Wilfred Ndidi

The Leicester man has filled the hole left by N’Golo Kante a few seasons ago. the youngster has somewhat been under the radar in the Premier League, however, is one of Leicester City’s and the leagues top performing midfielders.

He has plenty of experience in the league and, in no time should adapt to moving a little further up north.

Idrissa Gueye

The Everton midfielder has been a revelation in the Premier League this season under Marco Silva, topping the defensive midfield charts, ahead of the aforementioned Ndidi.

The former Aston Villa man tops the table for the most amount of tackles across Europe in his position; He’s strong, has great anticipation and loves nothing more than breaking up the play.

Despite becoming the first team to successfully retain the Premier League title for the first time in a decade, Man City manager Pep Guardiola will target up to four new signings this summer.

A fresh financial fair play scandal has re-surfaced since City won the league after beating Brighton 4-1 on Sunday. Yet despite the success, Guardiola is set to strengthen the squad as he aims to conquer Europe for the first time since 2011.

With a reported 200 million budget set to become open at the Etihad, who could come to the Etihad this season as the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph and Eliaquim Mangala and Danilo all look set to leave the Premier League champions this summer.

We take a look at some potentials…

Matthijs de Ligt

Having recently turned down a move across town to Man United, The Ajax defender may look over to the east side of Manchester as he looks set to leave Holland.

City look set to move for a new centre back this summer and De Ligt could be a key addition. Yet with Barcelona looking like favourites ahead of the blues, Guardiola may miss out, just like with Jorginho 12 months ago.

Rodri

The Atletico Madrid man could swap clubs with Otamendi this summer and indeed replace Fernandinho in the holding midfield role. The 34-year-old is not getting any younger these days either and, Ilkay Gundogan may not be the man to fill the role particularly in the big European games.

According to the Telegraph, City will meet Atletico’s 60 million request for Rodri. With the CDM role such a priority, the chances are this price will be met and equal the club transfer record currently held by Riyad Mahrez.

Harry Maguire

Featuring as a potential signing for Man United last week by thefootballmancave.com, Maguire may not be a bad move to City either and finding negatives for the England international is a tricky one.

Admired by Guardiola, Maguire knows the league better than any up and coming foreign star. At 26 years old, he can play in this City team with John Stones and Aymeric Laporte for many years to come. Captain Vincent Kompany may extend his contract by another year too.

Arsenal and Chelsea will join the Manchester clubs in the hunt at a price of 60 million.

Houssem Aouar

Premier League rivals Liverpool will do battle with City off the pitch this summer before they go again next August on it.

Aouar can play in a variety of midfield roles including the ‘number six’ position, one that will bring music to Guardiola’s ears. Having scored seven goals in his breakthrough Ligue 1 season.

In the Champions League last season, the blues only took one point out of a possible six against the French team. Having been described as ‘incredible’ by the Catalan, it would be no surprise to see him in sky blue come pre-season.

It seems to be a reoccurring theme in a Man City title run-in, a Vincent Kompany goal when his team needs it the most – and what a goal too.

Man City huffed and puffed against a tough and revitalised Leicester side under Brendan Rodgers, taking until the 70th minute to break down the Foxes and earned the all-important three points to take them back to the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City captain Kompany, a 5m signing back in 2008 under then boss Mark Hughes has been an ever-present figure in the team. He has seen the turn around for the Citizens and, played in the core of all three title-winning sides.

When they have needed him, he has always popped up with a season-changing goal, none more so memorable than the header against Man United which swung the momentum pendulum in City’s favour that day. Leading them to their first Premier League title of the modern era.

Following an emotional final whistle, they’ll be plenty of rumours around the Belgium international’s future. With what seemed a little bit of a cryptic interview afterwards, and a look of a man who was drinking it all in for one of the final times.

If and it’s a big if, as they’re no rumours to suggest Kompany is hanging up his boots or moving on to pastures new. No doubt he has once again written himself further into Man City folklore, with this 30-yard thunderbolt which has put the title firmly in City’s hands.

The passion and pure heart that Kompany has shown during his time at the Etihad is, something that when he does eventually move on, will be very hard to replace. Captain Incredible has once again shown the leader that he is, and his goal is the perfect rally cry to finish the job against Brighton on Sunday in the afternoon kick-off.

Manchester City are always on the lookout for Europe’s best talent to improve their already incredible team, and none come more exciting than Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

With the possible departure of Nicolas Otamendi and legendary club captain Vincent Kompany getting to his twilight years, City need to continue their impressive recruitment by bringing in a player of age and quality – De Ligt fits the bill perfectly.

It seems Ajax are going to be a victim of their own success this transfer window, much like Monaco a few seasons ago. Ajax have built a team of talented youngsters and they have all seemed to come to fruition at the same time. With most of the European giants starting to hover around, it looks like the Dutch defender is the target for Pep’s old side Barcelona also, with the competition for buying the best hots up massively again this year.

The 19-year-old looks strong in the air and his passing game would suit Pep Guardiola’s style perfectly, however his tackling can let him down at times. This is where Kompany’s experience and guidance in his latter years would pay dividends.

De Ligt has also found himself on scoresheet four times this season in his 45 appearances, as Ajax push for the Eredivisie title and a possible Champions League final.

The 63m rated star is already a full Dutch international, with 15 appearances and one goal for his country – which in itself speaks volumes of this lads talent and hype. No doubt many clubs will be linked, nevertheless, when Man City come knocking, especially with Pep, you can’t see many players turning that chance down lightly.

Manchester City fans what do you think, do you think De Ligt fits the Pep bill perfectly, or is there someone else you’d prefer?

If Man City do retain the Premier League title next weekend, Pep Guardiola won’t allow complacency to settle into the squad.

With the need to constantly improve in a league that never sits still, the Spanish manager is always looking for perfection and after such a quiet transfer window last summer, they’ll be no doubt a little turnaround at the Etihad Stadium.

The Manchester City are arguably one of the best teams in the world at the moment, and with such a strong squad there is always going to be huge competition to stay in the squad.

With the summer transfer market approaching, there is likely to be a lot of movement at the top clubs and these are two players I, as a City fan, wouldn’t be mourning the loss off.

Riyad Mahrez

Quite frankly, I would not like to compete with the likes of Aguero or Sterling for game time. There is no doubting that this is one of the strongest forward lines in football at the moment, if not the strongest.

However, I feel Mahrez just isn’t quite up to the standard of the others on the line-up, and I feel that there are other players that City could look to acquire that would further push him down the rankings

Phil Foden

What? I hear you say, he’s one of our own! I agree. However, if anyone needs to go on loan it’s going Foden. I feel in his limited game time at the club his improvement has been enormous, but while there are huge benefits to training with the likes of some of the best in the world there is nothing like game time to hone a players skills.

A player of his talent would be first team material at several Premier League clubs and, a season elsewhere could be the making of a brilliant young player.

Nico Otamendi was a shining light in City’s 100 points title-winning season 12 months ago. Playing alongside one of either Vincent Kompany, John Stones or Aymeric Laporte, The Argentine became an irreplaceable figure in Pep Guardiola’s back line.

Many pundits called Otamendi for his defensive errors during his first two seasons in England, but after working with Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff, he had pundits and even fans eating their words for his huge improvement.

Yet, this season something has gone wrong for the Argentine finding himself out of the first-team action, particularly in the Premier League. Mostly due to the partnership built by John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, the centre backs warrior-like approach has been well down the pecking order in City’s title defence.

Due to the fact, the Blues are on course to retain their title, with a projected total of 98 points-pipping Liverpool to the title by a point and within a potential domestic treble – Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, the decision taken to bench Otamendi has been hard to disagree with.

Clearly unhappy with his lack of game time, the man nicknamed ‘The General’ now looks ready to leave the City project for a new challenge, here in England or even abroad.

Linked with Wolves, West Ham or a return to Spain with Valencia, any club wanting to recruit a new centre back should give careful consideration at least. There is no reason to suggest he couldn’t slide straight into a top Champions League club defence.

Atletico Madrid are that leading club chasing the City defenders signature. Diego Simeone’s side certainly knows what they’re purchasing. A player with a no-nonsense approach to defending with a risk-free gun-ho approach to the beautiful game. Should Otamendi come out of a 50/50 duel as the winning man, he looks a world beater. If he’s the loser in the challenge, he can look the obvious weak link in City’s current back four.

Pep Guardiola’s quest for domestic and European dominance will go on with or without City’s General. But this departure will hurt more than most at the Etihad. His performance levels last season means he deserves all the credit he will no doubt receive when he eventually departs Manchester.

The 24-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder has had an amazing season, scoring 28 goals and adding 16 assists in 49 games this campaign.

This has obviously pricked the ears up of many clubs around Europe, Portuguese League’s Player of the Year. With Pep Guardiola looking to strengthen his midfield options this summer, with an ageing couple of players needing to be replaced.

The need for City to act early on Fernandes is critical to avoid a big bidding war between Europe’s elite. The Sporting Lisbon Captain is rated at 35m, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see figures of at least double that in the summer.

Having started his career at Boavista, he moved on to Italian side Novaro for 3.5m. However, a year later he transferred again over to Udinese, where he spent three years making 95 appearances, scoring 11 and assisting 13, making a name for himself in Serie A in the process.

It’s now surprise he attracted attention from Sampdoria in 2016, and spent a season out on loan at Blucerchiati, impressing enough to make the loan permanent as per the prior agreement in 2017, but bizarrely being moved on the day after to Sporting Lisbon for 9.6m.

Having moved back to Portugal, Fernandes built on his momentum and in 2018 he was named Portuguese League’s Player of the Year, signing a new five-year contract with a 100m release clause in the process.

Fernandes as played at u19 level, straight through to the Portuguese national team, making his full international debut in 2017 and playing in last years World Cup.

He can play in a variety of positions throughout the midfield, although playing in centre midfield seems to be where he is most prolific in front of goal and assisting his team.

If Man City were to get their man, he would be a very welcome player to the club and the Premier League in general. Given his experience already in two different league and a full international – Bruno Fernandes can only improve Pep’s City side, which is a frightening thought for all of their rivals.

For many years football has asked for technology. UEFA decided to bring VAR into the Champions League in January in order to sort out ‘clear and obvious decisions’.

‘Can somebody please tell me what clear and obvious is?’ said BT Sport Host Gary Lineker to ex ref turned pundit Peter Walton, as TV discussed Danny Rose’s handball from a Raheem Sterling shot in The Champions League first leg quarter final between Tottenham and Manchester City last week.

Lineker’s view echoes what many football fans think. As delirium turned to heartbreak at the Etihad Stadium last night, Man City fans probably wanted the use of VAR to be shelved right back in the wardrobe and never be brought out again. Twelve months ago though, when Guardiola’s side played Liverpool when VAR was inactive, City fans sung loudly from the rooftops for UEFA to be included in European games.

Technology in football is a rather funny thing. If it works in your favour you become a fan, if works against your team fans seem to want nothing to do with the system.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has always had is reservations where VAR is concerned, on Wednesday night he may just have found a new ally. On the other side of the touchline, Pep Guardiola, leading advocate for video assistance in football, his reaction as referee Cuneyt Cakir disallowed Sterling’s near but not so near winner was one of heartbreak.

Whatever the answer, VAR’s way of clearing up problems is throwing up more heartbreak than anyone may have thought. On another note, the time taken for the whole thing to work needs much looking at in the close season.

The atmosphere inside the Etihad become a church graveyard. All starting when the stadium announcer calls ‘VAR in review’. Then there is silence, pure silence. 54,000 fans cramped in one building and you can hear a pin drop.

Anticipation or dread may well be the answer. But staring at an empty blue screen stating, ‘Goal in review’ can only kill an atmosphere. Twice in one half is quite simply no good for fans, especially when they have no clue what the match day official is being told or why he has his hand to an earpiece.

This happened when PSG played United last month. Before Marcus Rashford tucked away an injury time penalty winner, The crowd inside Le Parc des Princes found no words to describe their emotions as somehow a trio of pitch side officials plus a man by a computer could send the French Champions out of Europe.

Again at Tottenham’s new ground last week in the run-up to Aguero’s penalty miss, VAR made thousands of excited home fans go silent. Did the eventual decision clear up or answer the question of whether a penalty should or should not have been given. Not really.

Slowing the action down does not mean a decision is correctly awarded. Handball shouts and appeals like Danny Rose, VAR’s use is welcomed, all be it with a pince of salt and a cheesy smile.

It feels to me like it was the reverse leg of this fixture was the match that really opened the door to Liverpool’s league challenge, when Roy’s men saw off the boys in blue in a thriller with a somewhat shock result of 3-2.

Crystal Palace, like most Roy Hodgson sides, are incredibly well organised and they are comfortably mid-table this season, and have been playing well pretty consistently this season, including against some of the bigger teams.

Manchester City looked sluggish against Tottenham, and remaining in all competitions, with some of the star players blighted by injury will have started to take its toll. Manchester City head to Selhurst Park, (possibly my favourite ground in the Premier League) this weekend and with Liverpool looking to take this right to the wire City can’t afford to let things slide here.

It’s stating the obvious to say a squad of Man City’s calibre should see off Crystal Palace with the minimum of fuss, however, playing Hodgson’s disciplined sides can frustrate teams, and Manchester City have found this season that plenty of opposition haven’t really played against them, more sat back and aimed for damage limitation.

Hopefully this won’t be the case for this game, as it was not the case in the reverse fixture, which saw Crystal Palace capitalise on good fortune and was an excellent game for the neutral, less so the City fan.

Manchester City are two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand, and 14 points clear of third placed Chelsea, who Liverpool are taking on this weekend. Champions League football is signed, sealed and delivered for next season, but I’m sure like many fans of, well, nineteen of the twenty premier league teams, I really want to see City keep well clear of Liverpool.

It’s been a fantastic race between the top two since Christmas, and I’m hoping this will be another exciting, as well as completely crucial game.